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Edmund F. Ball Papers

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/1572

Abstract

Title:
Edmund F. Ball Papers
Author/Creator:
Ball, Edmund F.
Collection number:
91-267
Size:
4.25 linear feet
Bulk dates:
1970-1979
Inclusive dates:
1969-1983
Repository:
National Public Broadcasting Archives, 3210 Hornbake Library, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. Tel: 301-405-9160, Fax: 301-314-2634, Email: npba@umd.edu
Abstract:

Edmund F. Ball's career in public broadcasting began with his membership in the National Council of the Humanities, after which he served as a board member of the Eastern Indiana Educational Television Board. From 1970 to 1973, he served as a public member of the Executive Board of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB). On July 27, 1973, Ball was designated lay representative to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) for WIPB-TV, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. That first year, his PBS duties consisted of serving as the third Vice-Chairman on the Board of Governors, and as a member of the Executive Committee, the CPB-PBS Partnership Review Committee, the Long-Range Finance Committee, and the Coordinating Committee. From 1974 to 1975, he was re-elected to the Partnership Review Committee. In 1976, Ball was elected to be a member of the Development and Public Information Committee. He served on both the Board of Directors and the Board of Governors until he left PBS in 1978. This collection documents Edmund F. Ball's involvement with NAEB and PBS.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

Edmund F. Ball Papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.

Publication rights:

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials page for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Status:

This collection is PROCESSED.

Historical Note

Edmund F. (Ferdinand) Ball, the son of Edmund Burke Ball and Bertha Crosley Ball, was born in Muncie, Indiana on January 8, 1905. After attending the Muncie grade school, he attended Asheville School for Boys, Asheville, North Carolina from 1920 to 1923, and then Wabash College of Indiana from 1923 to 1925. His degrees include a Bachelor of Philosophy (Ph.B.) from Yale University in 1928, honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degrees from Ball State University, DePauw University and Indiana University as well as H.H.D. degrees from Keuka College and Wabash College.

From 1941 to 1945, Ball served with various Air and Ground Force installations, advancing to the rank of Major, and also served in the War Department, Washington, D.C. As a staff officer with the Fifth Army, he saw combat in the European-Mediterranean theater, and was awarded the Bronze Star. During part of his time in the Fifth Army, he aided General Mark W. Clark, and later published a book, Staff Officer, recalling his experiences.

Edmund F. Ball has had a distinguished career in business and in public broadcasting. In 1928, he began at the family-owned Ball Corporation, which later became Ball Brothers in 1969. After various manufacturing assignments, he became glass factories manager in 1936. He held that post until 1940 when he became the vice-president of glass operations. Meanwhile, in 1931, he served as assistant secretary. His other positions have been: director and executive vice-president in 1945, president from 1948 to 1956 and 1967 to 1970, chairman of the board from 1956 to 1969, and finally chairman of the executive committee from 1970 to about 1978. As the Ball Corporation was well-known for satellite and aerospace equipment design, Ball's primary interest was communication systems. Indeed, much of the Ball Corporation's research in satellite design has contributed to the making of television devices which have been helpful to educational broadcasting.

Edmund F. Ball's career in public broadcasting began with his membership in the National Council of the Humanities, after which he served as a board member of the Eastern Indiana Educational Television Board. From 1970 to 1973, he served as a public member of the Executive Board of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB). On July 27, 1973, Ball was designated lay representative to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) for WIPB-TV, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. That first year, his PBS duties consisted of serving as the third Vice-Chairman on the Board of Governors, and as a member of the Executive Committee, the CPB-PBS Partnership Review Committee, the Long-Range Finance Committee, and the Coordinating Committee. From 1974 to 1975, he was re-elected to the Partnership Review Committee. In 1976, Ball was elected to be a member of the Development and Public Information Committee. He served on both the Board of Directors and the Board of Governors until he left PBS in 1978.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Edmund F. Ball Papers cover the years 1969 to 1983, with the bulk of the collection from 1970 to 1979. The collection documents Ball's involvement in the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Types of documents in the collection include memoranda, correspondence, reports, newsletters, minutes, news clippings, and working papers.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The Edmund F. Ball Papers were donated to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries by Edmund F. Ball in May of 1991.

Processing Information

Processed by:

Processed by Karen E. Eglinton, February 1992. Revised by Karen E. King, March 1997

Encoded by:

EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Karen E. King, January 2005.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: National Association of Educational Broadcasters, 1967-1977 (0.50 linear foot)

This series documents Edmund F. Ball's involvement in the National Association of Educational Broadcasters from 1971 to 1973. Topics covered include federal financing of public education, programming goals, and satellite communication systems. Notable correspondents include former NAEB president William G. Harley, PBS chair Ralph B. Rogers, and NAEB secretary James Fellows. The materials were arranged in first alphabetical, and then chronological order and consists of correspondence, minutes and reports.

DescriptionSeriesBox / ReelFolder / Frame
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Annual Business Meeting - Minutes, November 1972 series 1box 1folder 1
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Board of Directors - Memoranda - Harley/Fellows, 1973 series 1box 1folder 2
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Correspondence, 1970-1977 series 1box 1folder 3
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors -- Members & Staff Lists, 1969-1974 series 1box 1folder 4
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors -- Memorandum - Treasurer's Report, January 1973 series 1box 1folder 5
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors -- Minutes & Related Materials, May 1970 series 1box 1folder 6
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors -- 47th Annual Convention, October 17-20,1970 series 1box 1folder 7
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors, November 1970 series 1box 1folder 8
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors, October 1972 series 1box 1folder 9
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors, April 1973 series 1box 1folder 10
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors, September 1973 series 1box 1folder 11
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Board of Directors -- 49th Annual Convention, November 1973 series 1box 1folder 12
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Facts About Educational Radio/Facts About NAEB, nd series 1box 1folder 13
National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- National Endowment for the Humanities Press Release, December 1977 series 1box 1folder 14

Series 2: Public Broadcasting Service, 1969-1979, 1982-1983 (3.75 linear feet)

This series documents Edmund F. Ball's involvement in the Public Broadcasting Service from 1972 to 1978. Topics covered include the 1973 CPB-PBS partnership agreement, community service grants and federal financing of public broadcasting. Notable correspondents include PBS president Lawrence K. Grossman and PBS chair Newton N. Minow. The materials were arranged in chronological order and contain materials such as minutes and reports which supplement the correspondence.

DescriptionSeriesBox / ReelFolder / Frame
Corporate Information Book -- Transmittal Sheets, Nos. 3-7, May-December 1979 series 2box 1folder 15
Corporate Information Book -- Cover letter, Table of Contents; Amended pages, nd series 2box 1folder 16
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Definition; Organization Structure, nd series 2box 1folder 17
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Board of Directors:, October 1978-July 1979 series 2box 1folder 18
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Board Commitees:, October 1978-April 1979 series 2box 1folder 19
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Committee Charges, nd series 2box 1folder 20
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Board/Committee Meeting Calendar:, 1978-July 1979 series 2box 1folder 21
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Composition of PBS Membership and Board, nd series 2box 1folder 22
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Lay Representatives, October 1978 series 2box 2folder 1
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Professional Representatives, November 1978-July 1979 series 2box 2folder 2
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Staff, 1978-1979 series 2box 2folder 3
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Board Composition and Membership, nd series 2box 2folder 4
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- A White Paper, November 1975 series 2box 2folder 5
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Articles of Incorporation; By-Laws, November 3, 1969, nd series 2box 2folder 6
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Report on Governance, October 22, 1976 series 2box 2folder 7
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Advisory Committees, October 1978-April 1979 series 2box 2folder 8
Corporate Information Book -- CPB -- Mission & Goals, nd series 2box 2folder 9
Corporate Information Book -- CPB -- Board of Directors, September 1978-March 1979 series 2box 2folder 10
Corporate Information Book -- CPB -- Board Committees, nd series 2box 2folder 11
Corporate Information Book -- CPB -- Board/Committee Meeting Calendar, October 1978; May 1979 series 2box 2folder 12
Corporate Information Book -- CPB/PBS Partnership Agreement, nd series 2box 2folder 13
Corporate Information Book -- Role & Responsibilities of CPB and PBS, nd series 2box 2folder 14
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Fact Sheets, nd series 2box 2folder 15
Corporate Information Book -- PBS -- Acronyms, Initialisms, Organizations Dictionary, nd series 2box 2folder 16
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Board/Committee Members, nd series 2box 2folder 17
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Public Broadcasting Act of 1967; Long-Range Financing of Public Broadcasting, 1969 series 2box 2folder 18
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Board of Governors re: Ascertainment of Community Needs, 1971-1973 series 2box 2folder 19
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Long-Range Financing Task Force Meeting, February 16, 1973 series 2box 2folder 20
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- CPB Radio-Television Allocations, 1973-1974 series 2box 2folder 21
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Station Program Cooperative-Policies and Procedures Manual,, April 1974 series 2box 2folder 22
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Public Television Laymen's Meeting, June 13-14, 1974 series 2box 2folder 23
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Development Committee Meeting, June 21, 1974 series 2box 2folder 24
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Board of Governors and Managers,, June 21-22, 1974 series 2box 3folder 1
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Joint Meeting: CPB and PBS Boards,, December 16, 1974 series 2box 3folder 2
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Board of Governors-Board of Managers,, January 12, 1975 series 2box 3folder 3
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Boards of Governors and Managers,, June 19, 1975 series 2box 3folder 4
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- System Finances,, May 9, 1977 series 2box 3folder 5
Annual Meetings, Reports, Papers -- Annual Membership Meeting,, June 25-27, 1978 series 2box 3folder 6
Correspondence, 1972 series 2box 3folder 7
Correspondence, January 1973 series 2box 3folder 8
Correspondence, March-June 1973 series 2box 3folder 9
Correspondence, March-June 1973 series 2box 3folder 10
Correspondence, March-June 1973 series 2box 3folder 11
Correspondence, March-June 1973 series 2box 3folder 12
Correspondence, March-June 1973 series 2box 3folder 13
Correspondence, March-June 1973 series 2box 3folder 14
Correspondence, March-June 1973 series 2box 3folder 15
Correspondence, July-December 1973 series 2box 4folder 1
Correspondence, July-December 1973 series 2box 4folder 2
Correspondence, July-December 1973 series 2box 4folder 3
Correspondence, July-December 1973 series 2box 4folder 4
Correspondence, July-December 1973 series 2box 4folder 5
Correspondence, July-December 1973 series 2box 4folder 6
Correspondence, July-December 1973 series 2box 4folder 7
Correspondence, January-February 1974 series 2box 4folder 8
Correspondence, March-July 1974 series 2box 4folder 9
Correspondence, March-July 1974 series 2box 4folder 10
Correspondence, March-July 1974 series 2box 4folder 11
Correspondence, March-July 1974 series 2box 4folder 12
Correspondence, March-July 1974 series 2box 4folder 13
Correspondence, August 1974 series 2box 5folder 1
Correspondence, August 1974 series 2box 5folder 2
Correspondence, September-October 1974 series 2box 5folder 3
Correspondence, September-October 1974 series 2box 5folder 4
Correspondence, November-December series 2box 5folder 5
Correspondence, January-February series 2box 5folder 6
Correspondence, March-April 1975 series 2box 5folder 7
Correspondence, March-April 1975 series 2box 5folder 8
Correspondence, May 1975 series 2box 5folder 9
Correspondence, May 1975 series 2box 5folder 10
Correspondence, June 1975 series 2box 5folder 11
Correspondence, June 1975 series 2box 5folder 12
Correspondence, July 1975 series 2box 5folder 13
Correspondence, August-September series 2box 5folder 14
Correspondence, October-December 1975 series 2box 6folder 1
Correspondence, October-December 1975 series 2box 6folder 2
Correspondence, October-December 1975 series 2box 6folder 3
Correspondence, January-April 1976 series 2box 6folder 4
Correspondence, January-April 1976 series 2box 6folder 5
Correspondence, January-April 1976 series 2box 6folder 6
Correspondence, January-April 1976 series 2box 6folder 7
Correspondence, May 1976 series 2box 6folder 8
Correspondence, May 1976 series 2box 6folder 9
Correspondence, June-July 1976 series 2box 6folder 10
Correspondence, August-September 1976 series 2box 6folder 11
Correspondence, October-December 1976 series 2box 7folder 1
Correspondence, January-May 1977 series 2box 7folder 2
Correspondence, January-May 1977 series 2box 7folder 3
Correspondence, January-May 1977 series 2box 7folder 4
Correspondence, January-May 1977 series 2box 7folder 5
Correspondence, January-May 1977 series 2box 7folder 6
Correspondence, June 1977 series 2box 7folder 7
Correspondence, June 1977 series 2box 7folder 8
Correspondence, July 1977 series 2box 7folder 9
Correspondence, August-September 1977 series 2box 7folder 10
Correspondence, October-November 1977 series 2box 7folder 11
Correspondence, January-February 1978 series 2box 7folder 12
Correspondence, January-February 1978 series 2box 7folder 13
Correspondence, March-April 1978 series 2box 7folder 14
Correspondence, May 1978 series 2box 7folder 15
Correspondence, May 1978 series 2box 7folder 16
Correspondence, June 1978 series 2box 7folder 17
Correspondence, June 1978 series 2box 7folder 18
Correspondence, July-August 1978 series 2box 8folder 1
Correspondence, September-November 1978 series 2box 8folder 2
Correspondence, January-April 1979 series 2box 8folder 3
Correspondence, May 1979 series 2box 8folder 4
Correspondence, May 1979 series 2box 8folder 5
Correspondence -- Project Paper #10 Appendices D-F, May 23-25, 1979 series 2box 8folder 6
Correspondence, May 26-31, 1979 series 2box 8folder 7
Correspondence, June 1979 series 2box 8folder 8
Correspondence, June 1979 series 2box 8folder 9
Correspondence, July-August 1979 series 2box 8folder 10
Correspondence, July-August 1979 series 2box 8folder 11
Correspondence, September-October series 2box 8folder 12
Correspondence, November-December series 2box 8folder 13
Correspondence, 1982-1983 series 2box 8folder 14
Partnership Review Committee, 1972; January, March-April 1973 series 2box 9folder 1
Partnership Review Committee, May-July 1973 series 2box 9folder 2
Partnership Review Committee, May-July 1973 series 2box 9folder 3
Partnership Review Committee, August-September, November series 2box 9folder 4
Partnership Review Committee, December 1973-January 1974 series 2box 9folder 5
Partnership Review Committee, February, September-October, December 1974 series 2box 9folder 6

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